Two-speed supercharger drive



March 17, 1936. R.. H|LT0N 2,034,087 Two-SPEED SUPERCHARGER DRIVE Filed July-14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet J.l

March 17, 1936. R; CHILTON 2,034,087

' TWO-SPEED ISUPPERGHIRGER DRIVE I V Filed July 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wvl-:MOR RoLgND CmLToN BY y ATT'ORNEY Patented Mu.17, 1936 i i i f 2,034,087

UNI-TED sTTEs PATENT OFFICE TWO-SPEED SUPERCHARGER DRIVE Roland Chilton, Ridgewood, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Reed Propeller Co., IYnc Garden City, N. Y., a corporation of New y Application-July 14, 1933, Serial No. 680,495

17 Clams. (Cl. 'J4-290) This lnvention'relatestospeed changing mechobject is to provide a two-speed supercharger anisms and in the specificy embodiment of the drive which may be shifted from one ratio to drawings shows a two-speed centrifugal superthe `other at will and one in which very small charger drive for use on an aircraft engine. i loads are imposed Aon the control mechanism.

5 Such superchargers are used for two purposes: Generally, the invention is embodied in a ra- 5 First, to increase the sea level output of the dial air cooled aircraft engine provided at its engine by "boosting the pressure of the intake 'rearward end with a supercharged induction syscharge above atmospheric, and second, to maintem the latter being suitably connected to the tain sea level induction pressure at altitude in engine cylinders. The supercharger generally l0 spite-of the reduced atmospheric pressure. comprises an impeller arranged to be driven by 10 It is the practice to provide alternative superthe engine crankshaft through gearing having a charger drive gears for assembly in a given type ratio'whereby the impeller rotates, according to o! engine, in order to vary the supercharger charthe gearing used, at four to twelve times crankacterlstics according to the service required. shaft speed. 'Ihe gear train 'gearing may inl When it ls desired to develop normal sea. level clude a lay shaft geared to the crankshaft, the 15 POWel Bt relatively high altitude, gears 0f high impeller in turn being geared to the `lay-shaft. ntie are used. but it then becomes necessary t0 The two speed drive of my invention is preferavoid operation of the engine at full throttle at ably arranged on the lay-shaft, and comprisesl sea level, because excessive manifold pressure a planetary unit having an internal gear fixed 2o und pOWer Output, liable t0 damage the engine. to a pinion revoluble on the lay-shaft and driven 20 would be developed. Accordingly, the throttle by the crankshaft. The internal gear -meshes C0nti'0l iS equipped With Seine device t0 limit with a series of planet gears carried by a disk operation at low altitudes to reduced throttle which is nxed to the lay-shaft. These planet Opening. This has the ObjectiOn that, when the gears in turn mesh with a central sun gear conmnifeld pTeSSuieS are subdued by Choking Off centric with the lay-shaft, but the sun gear is 25 the ail' Supply in this menne?. the hOrSe power organized to rotate freely in one direction but ebSOlbed by the Superehargel' iS nOt reduced in to be prevented from opposite rotation by a prepei'tiOn t0 the reduced pieSSuI'e Output and one way clutch connected with the engine casexcesslve heating of-the intake. charge results. ing.

For these reasons, it becomes necessary to provide Means are provided for locking the planet- 30 a high ratio supercharser dri-ve to sive Optimum carrying disk to the internen gear, whereby a. di- Supelehrging Characteristics fOr high altitude rect drive is effected from the crankshaft driven engine operation. and t0 provide an alternative pinion to the lay-shaft. 'In such a position of adrelativeiy low ratio Supercharger drive to allow justment, the planet gears are locked to the ineptiinuln full throttle-engine Operation at 10W a1- ternal gear and the sun gear revolves with them 35 titudes; the two supercharger drive ratios must about the lay-shaft axis. This is the high ratio be operable by the aircraft crew selectively, and drive, v

the meehniSm Inu-St 'De Simple and Compeet and When the planet disk is unlocked from the in- S0 consti'ctedthat engine Operation iS not internal gear, the latter causes the planet gears 40 terfcred with in changing hom 011e t0 the other to rotate about their own axes, and to rotate the 4o available Speed 0f I'Otetipn Of the. Supelehargel planet disk, and hence the lay-shaft, atreduced impeller. l, speed. In this position of adjustment, the sun Accordingly, objects'of the present inVentiOn gear would tend to rotate reversely, but is preinclude the provision of an improved and simplivented from so doing by the one-way clutch.

fied supercharger driving mechanism which will It will thus be seen that the only vchange-speed 45 provide for Selective gealiratiOS; one giving Opticontrol necessary is the locking and unlocking of mum sesl level performance and-the other the the planet disk to and from the internal gear, desired degree of' altitude performance, whereby this control comprising a hydraulically operated the characteristics in either condition are freed friction Clutch between said two elements.

5o from limitatiOnSiinpOSed by the other. In the drawings, wherein similar numbers indi- 50 A further object is to provide a. mechanism cate similar parts, of this type which shall be so compact as to Fig. 1 is an axial section through an engine inpermit of incorporation inside conventional sucluding the 'mechanism of the invention, and inpercharger gear housings in place of the usual cluding a fragmentary section through the supersingle speed supercharger gears.' An associated charger to be driven, and 55` peller ilxed on a hollow shaft 28 rotatably mounted on bushings 22 carried by a central driving shaft 24, which, in turn, is supported in arear bearing 26 at its right-hand end, and is drivably connected to the engine (not'shown) at'its lefthand end.

A lay-shaft, indicated in general by the numeral 28 is supported in bushings 38'and 32 fixed in the housings l2 and I4,.respectively, and there is splined to this lay-shaft at 34 the hub `of a shock absorbing clutch 36 which frictionally drives a ring gear 38 meshed with a supercharger pinion 48 shown as integral with a hollow supercharger shaft 28. lThis clutch may be o-f the type disclosed in my Patent Number 1,860,851, and needs no further description for the piu'poses of this disclosure. l

The driving shaft 24 is equipped with a driving gear Y42 here shown as integral with the shaft, which gear meshes with a pinion 44 integral with a. plate 46, to the rim of which there is secured as by screws 48 an annular gear 58, a clutch cone member 52 being interposed as shown. The elements 44, .48, 48, 58, and 52 just described are free to rotate as a unit upon the lay-shaft l28, be-

ing mounted thereon on a bushing 53. Within this annular gear assemblage there is disposed a disk 54 integral with the ylay-shaft 28 and having a conical rim 56 engageable with the clutch ring 52, both parts being provided with parallel portions 58 having a piston fit. The disk 54 is further providedwithvplanet pinion journals 68 shown as integral, and these journals carry a plurality of pinions 62 mounted for free rotation lon bushings 64 and located axially by bolts 66.

Pinions 62 mesh with the annular gear 58 and with a sun pinion 68 which has a hollow extension 18 engaging the outer diameter of helical coils -12`formed integral with a ilange member 14 and surrounding the cylindrical extension of the bushing 32. The'coil fiangemember-14 and the bushing ilange 32 are securedfrigidly to the housing I4 by a cap 16-and nuts 18. 'Ihs part of the structure comprises an anchored coil clutch restraining the sun pinion 66 from rearward rotation, butleaving this pinioniree for forward rotation at any speed.- As the sun gear 68 tends to rotate in one direction, the coils 12 tend to Wrap up on the bushing 32 allowing the hollow extension 18 to slip freely thereover. When the sun gear 68 tends to rotate oppositely, the coils 12, by their natural expansion, frictionally engage the extension 38; the coils arefunwound slightly, thereby jamming against the hollow extension and preventing rotation of the latter with its integral sun gear 66.

The housing I4 is provided with a duct 88 connected to thepressure lubrication system of the engine, and by suitable drillings 82 and 83 in the bushing 32 `and flange member 14, the lubricant is led within the hollow lay-shaft 26 and by suitable holes 84 to the vpinion bushing 64. 'Ihese Ilubricating passages are separated from the pressure control passages, now to be described, by a sleeve 66 driven into the lay-shaft 26. The cap 16 is provided with a control valve 86 which may be oscillated by a control lever 98 and this valve has suitable passages 92 whereby, in the position shown, oil pressure is Vadmitted from the drillings .plates I I8.

sz to the interior of the neeve as and thence through a. hole 94 to the space between the plate member 46 and' theclutch ilange 54 of the layshaft 28. -It will be seen that these parts comprise a short piston and cylinder combination whereby bers are free to disengage'- under the pressurev of a light spring 98 placed between the pinion 44 and the clutch 36 for this purpose.

It will now be clear that when the control valve 88 is moved to apply oil pressure between the clutch member 54 and the member 46, the clutch will be engaged, by hydraulic pressure on thearea of the piston element 56, andv all the parts. mounted on the lay-shaft 28 will be locked to-` gether for unitary rotation, includingl the sun pinion 68 which is free for such forward rotation 1 by the coil clutch 12 as previously described.

lon the other handwhen the v a1ve aa is turned to shut off the oil pressure and open up the actuating cavities to a dumping" passage 86, the cone clutch 56 will be released and the drive reaction will now fall upon the xed sun pinion 68.

i on which a rearward turning tendency will'ibe imposed. Such turning being prevented by the anchored coil 12, the drive will be from the pinion# 44 vthrough the annular gear 58 and the planet pinions 62 to the lplanet pinion journals 68, rigid with the lay-shaft 28. In accordance with the- Well understood operation of planetary gears, this shaft will now rotate slower than the pinion 44 and the slip clutch 36 and supercharge'r gear 38, partaking of this reduced speed, will drive the supercharger pinion 48 and the supercharger impeller I8- at proportionately reduced velocityv in accordance .with the objectives of the invention. v

Included in the oil pressure pipe |82 to a closed air pot |84. The object of thisis to prevent sudden pressure rises when the valve 88 is thrown into the high'gear positions shown. It will be evident that the piston element of the clutch 54 is at all times in communication' with the interior of the closed pot |84l so that" the 'pressures in both must be at any instant of pressure rise to insure progressive engagement of the -clutch 56.' f In Fig. 2, there is shown a modification cone type 'shown in Fig. 1. In this modication there is secured to the member 54, which carries' the journals 68, a. piston plate |86 slidably fitted in a sleeve |88 integral with the gear 58. This.

gear is conveniently secured to the back plate 46 system, is a bypass passage I 88 which may be connected by at` 1n..`.'.' corporatng a multiple disk clutch in place of the'A by end splines II8 and an annular nut 'I I2, and the sleeve |88 is further provided with internal i splines I I4 with which are engaged clutch plates II6. The member 54 is providedv with external splines on which are 'engaged intermediate clutch in connection with Fig. 1. Fig. Z also shows the It will be clear that the operation'f of this device is similar to that Aalready described alternative position of adjustment of the valve 88, wherein the hollow sleeve 86 is thrown open to the drain passage 96, and whereby the clutch may disengage under the influence of the spring 9B.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding myinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modications and changes.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an engine having a supercharger impeller gear and a driving gear,

of a shaft, a pinion thereon drivably yengaging one said gear, a gear rotatable on the shaft and engaging the other said gear, planet pinions car-v ried by the shaft, a ring gear rigid with said 4 rotatably mounted gear and engaging said planets, a sun gear engaging the planets, and means to anchor the sun gear against reverse rotation.

2. The combination with an engine having a supercharger gear and a driving gear, 'of a shaft, a pair of gears on the shaft respectively engaging said. driving gear and said supercharger gear, a planetary gear set through which one said shaft gear may drive the shaft at reduced speed, and clutch means adapted to drive the shaft at unitary speed with the said one shaft gear.

3. A two-speed'lay-shaft for drivably connecting a driving gear with a supercharger pinion including in combination, a pinion rotatableupon the lay-shaft and engaging the driving gear, a gear on the lay-shaft engaging the supercharger pinion, means for clutching said layshaft pinion to the lay-shaft for Aunitary rotation and planetary gear means for driving said layshaft from the pinion at reduced speed when sai clutch means is released. p f

4. A two-speed gear comprising in combinationva lay-shaft, means mounted for rotation on the lay-shaft and adapted to engage a source of power, means on the lay-shaft adapted to drive a means to lbe driven. a planetary gear adapted to drive said lay-shaft from said rst mentioned means at reduced speed and including a sun gear, one-way clutch means adapted to prevent reverse rotation of said sun gear, and a friction clutch engageable to drive vthe lay-shaft at unitary speed with said first mentioned means.

5. A two-speed drive including a shaft. a disk rigid with the shaft, planet pinions carried by said disk. an assemblage mounte'd for rotation on the shaft and comprising a ring gear andrigid connecting means embracing said disk to form a piston and cylinder combination therewith, clutch means for drivably engaging said ring gear assemblage with said disk, and control means adapted to admit hydraulic pressure to said piston and cylinder combination to engage said clutch.

6. A two-speed drive comprising in combination a shaft, a disk on the shaft, planet pinions carried on said disk, a drive pinion and ring gear assemblage embracing said disk and forming therewith an hydraulic piston and cylinder, friction clutch gear means adapted to drivably engage said shaft disk with said assemblage on admission of hydraulic pressure to said cylinder, a sun gear engaging said planet pinions and means to prevent backward rotation of said sun gear.

cylinder mounted for axial rotation, a piston in said cylinder mounted for-translation and rotation with respect thereto and for rotation therewith,'a clutch for effecting rotation of said piston with said cylinder upon translation of said ring gear, said piston being mounted on said driven shaft, clutch elements carried respectively by said cylinder and said piston adapted for engagement for lockingv said piston for rotation with said vcylinder upon translation of said piston within said cylinder, and means for introducing fluid v under pressure within said cylinder for selectively effecting the indicated translation.

9. In a planetary gear set, a drive shaft, a coaxial driven shaft, a cylinder .having a ring gear, carried by said drive shaft, a piston slidable in said cylinder having planet pinions engaging said ring gear, said piston being mounted on said driven shaft, clutch elements carried respectively by said cylinder and said piston adapted for engagement for locking said'piston for rotation with said cylinder upon translation of said piston lwithin said-cylinder, means for introducing fluid under pressure'within said cylinder for selectively'enecting the indicated translation, and a sun gear mounted for unidirectional rotation and engaged by said planet pinions.

10. In combination, 'in an engine supercharger drive having a drive shaft and a concentric supercharger impeller mounted thereon, a lay shaft, a gear on the drive shaft, a pinion on the lay shaft meshing therewith, a gear on the lay shaft, a pinion on the impeller meshing therewith, and gear means wholly 'carried on said lay shaft selectively operable to effect a direct drive between sald lay shaft pinion and gear or to effect a speed reduction between said lay shaft pinion and gear.

1l. A two-speed planetary gear comprising in combination, a cylinder mounted for axial rotation, a gear mounted on and coaxial with said '1. A change speed planetary gear comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable within said cylinder and 'v rotatable therewith or with respect thereto and having planet pinions mounted for engagement engage, clutch means engageable in response to translation of said piston relative to said cylinder for. causing said piston to rotate with said cylinder, and means for selectively introducing fluid under pressure to said cylinder for causing the indicated translation.

12. In combination, in an engine supercharger drive having a drive shaft and a concentric supercharger impeller mounted thereon, a lay shaft, a gear on the drive shaft, a pinion on the lay shaft driven thereby, a gear on the lay shaft, a pinion on the impeller driven by the lay shaft gear, .and selectively operable gear means wholly carried by said lay shaft for effecting changes in the drive speed ratio between said lay shaft pinion and said lay shaft gear. l

13. In combination, in an engine supercharger drive having a drive shaft and a concentric supercharger impeller mounted thereon, a lay shaft,

'a gear on the drive shaft, a pinion on the lay shaft driven thereby, a gear on the lay shaft, a pinion on the impeller driven by the lay shaft gear, and selectively operable means wholly carried by said lay shaft for effecting. changes in the drive speed ratio between said lay shaft pinion and said lay shaft gear, said last named means `comprising a hydraulically operated lplanetary gear set carried on said lay shaft.

- 14. In combination, in an engine supercharger drive having a drive shaft and a concentric supercharger impeller mounted for rotation' thereon, a two-part lay shaft, one part thereof being geared to said drive shaft and the other part thereof being geared to said impeller, and selectively operable variable speed ratio gears for drivably connecting the two parts of said layV shaft.

15. In combination, in an engine supercharger drive having a drive shaft and an impeller shaft, a lay shaft, a fixed ratio driving connection from said drive shaft to said lay shaft, a fixed ratiov driving connection from said lay shaft to said -impeiler shaft in constant driving relation with said impeller shaft, and shiftable gears,

- pressure, means for selectively placing said source in communication with said piston device, and a vcushioning chamber communicating with said device for cushioning the operation of said piston device upon actuation of said selective means.

17. 'I'he,cor'nbination with an engine having a supercharger drive gear and a supercharger pinion, 0f a lay shaft having a rotationally free pinion engaged with the drive gear and a gear engaged with the supercharger pinion, a planetary gear set including a sun pinion, between the lay shaft land the rotationally free pinion, means to selectively clutch` the lay shaft to the rotationally free pinion, and means operative to sun pinion from rotation.

ROLAND CHILTON.

CERTIFICTE OF CORRECTON lmentre. 2,054,087.

the above numbered patent requiring correctionas follows: Page 4, second March i?, 1936.

ROLAND CHILTON hold the It 11s-hereby certifiedftha'eermr appears in .the printed specification of column, line 2,- Claiml '15,. for the word and comma "gears, read gear; and

that the said Letters v=l"atent' should be read wthths correction therein that the same may conform to the recordy of the oase in the Patent Office".I

Signed and sealed this 197th day of May, A. D. 1936.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents.

drive having a drive shaft and a concentric supercharger impeller mounted thereon, a lay shaft,

'a gear on the drive shaft, a pinion on the lay shaft driven thereby, a gear on the lay shaft, a pinion on the impeller driven by the lay shaft gear, and selectively operable means wholly carried by said lay shaft for effecting. changes in the drive speed ratio between said lay shaft pinion and said lay shaft gear, said last named means `comprising a hydraulically operated lplanetary gear set carried on said lay shaft.

- 14. In combination, in an engine supercharger drive having a drive shaft and a concentric supercharger impeller mounted for rotation' thereon, a two-part lay shaft, one part thereof being geared to said drive shaft and the other part thereof being geared to said impeller, and selectively operable variable speed ratio gears for drivably connecting the two parts of said layV shaft.

15. In combination, in an engine supercharger drive having a drive shaft and an impeller shaft, a lay shaft, a fixed ratio driving connection from said drive shaft to said lay shaft, a fixed ratiov driving connection from said lay shaft to said -impeiler shaft in constant driving relation with said impeller shaft, and shiftable gears,

- pressure, means for selectively placing said source in communication with said piston device, and a vcushioning chamber communicating with said device for cushioning the operation of said piston device upon actuation of said selective means.

17. 'I'he,cor'nbination with an engine having a supercharger drive gear and a supercharger pinion, 0f a lay shaft having a rotationally free pinion engaged with the drive gear and a gear engaged with the supercharger pinion, a planetary gear set including a sun pinion, between the lay shaft land the rotationally free pinion, means to selectively clutch` the lay shaft to the rotationally free pinion, and means operative to sun pinion from rotation.

ROLAND CHILTON.

CERTIFICTE OF CORRECTON lmentre. 2,054,087.

the above numbered patent requiring correctionas follows: Page 4, second March i?, 1936.

ROLAND CHILTON hold the It 11s-hereby certifiedftha'eermr appears in .the printed specification of column, line 2,- Claiml '15,. for the word and comma "gears, read gear; and

that the said Letters v=l"atent' should be read wthths correction therein that the same may conform to the recordy of the oase in the Patent Office".I

Signed and sealed this 197th day of May, A. D. 1936.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

